Conversion: what is it?The left image is from a PDF presentation and was created by Frans Appels who works for an online marketing agency called Netprofiler. I find it very interesting because I’ve been brushing up my affiliate marketing knowledge.

I’m currently working on a personal project that will use affiliate marketing alot. So conversion rates mean big business.  

In the PDF presentation he gives us 15 golden tips for a higher conversion rate.

The 15 golden tips for a higher conversion rate are:

1. Define and measure you conversion in detail
The goals of a site depend on the type of website. Globally, website can de divided into the following catagories:

- Online sales / E-commerce = Orders
- Online lead generation = Leads
- Content = Pageviews
- Online support / service = % Online self service
- Branding = # Email subscribers

2. Create relative landingpages
Make sure the look, feel and actions of the website are similar to the online marketing campain.  

3. Personalise
Take for example Amazon.com (co.uk)

4. Gain trust
Display logo’s of trustworthy businesses. Offer customer feedback. Easy access to contact information.

5. Offer decent search/navigation capabilities
Through the internal navigation and searchbox. By using internal text links and a sitemap.

6. Promote unique selling points
By displaying comparisons, or tell your visitor why he/she should choose for your business instead of your competitors…

7. Write killer headlines
Compact, easy readable, trustworthy, lots of keywords, defines a call-to-action.

8. Create decent copy
Easy scannable, active text, lists benefits.

9. Offer rich product information
Visitor has to be able to make a decision by it.

10. Define a clear call-to-action
Things that influence the CTR are colour, shape, text, location, icons.
Make sure the CTA is clear and present!

11. Use simple forms
Only the necessary questions, longer forms over multiple pages, display the questions in a logic order.

12. Cross sell and up sell
Will lead to more sales and an interested visitor.

13. Minimalise diversions
Speaks for itself. Don’t try and jam 10 products into one page.

14. Create an urgence
Gone = gone. Limited time only discounts …

15. Test test test
Webstatistics, …

That’s it. If you’re planning on getting into the affiliate marketing business, be sure to check up on these simple but essential rules!